Vehicle operators in Pittsburgh and elsewhere convicted of drunk driving may face required installation of special ignition interlock devices following a recommendation made by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The NTSB has been joined by AAA in calling for interlock installations.
When the devices detect and measure intoxication levels that exceed legal limits, the vehicles will not start. These devices are called "alcohol-ignition interlocks." The vehicle will not start until the driver breathes into it and the interlock confirms that his/her blood-alcohol level is below legal limits.
A total of 17 states already require these devices for anyone previously having a drunk driving conviction. Now, both the NTSB and AAA are urging the other 33 states to adopt similar rules. Both organizations believe many lives can be saved by mandating this installation. The recommendation suggests that even first-time offenders be required to install these devices.
The AAA Auto Club traffic safety and community programs' manager further states, ". . . simply mandating the device is not enough. We need to ensure that judges actually order IID use and that there is effective oversight and enforcement to ensure offenders have the devices in place on their vehicles."
California has a pilot program in effect in four counties requiring interlock installation for both first-time and repeat drunk drivers. The Distilled Spirits Council and the American Beverage Institute have some problems supporting the rules as recommended. Both groups, however, support ignition interlocks for first-timers, if their blood-alcohol content equals 0.15 percent or greater, exceeding the typical legal limit of 0.08 percent.
Do you support the NTSB and AAA recommendations? Or do you feel these devices are privacy invasions, affecting drivers who may be only slightly over the common legal limit? Since roadway fatalities have been declining for some years, are current laws sufficient in removing drunk drivers from our highways?
Source: Los Angeles Times, "AAA joins call for ignition devices for first-time drunk drivers," Jerry Hirsch, Dec. 26, 2012
- Drunk driving crashes often result in serious injuries. Our firm provides counsel in these types of personal injury matters. If you would like to learn more about our practice, please visit our Lawrence County drunk driving accidents page.